Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about document delivery, apostille, legalization, and our services.

General Questions

We provide comprehensive document services for clients who need Russian documents delivered abroad:

  • Document Retrieval: We obtain birth, marriage, divorce, death certificates, diplomas, police clearance certificates and other documents from Russian registries (ZAGS) on your behalf.
  • Apostille: We arrange apostille certification for documents to be used in Hague Convention countries.
  • Consular Legalization: For non-Hague Convention countries (UAE, China, Canada, etc.), we handle the full legalization process.
  • Translation: Professional certified translations into English, German, Hebrew, Spanish, Italian, French and other languages.
  • International Delivery: Secure courier delivery with tracking to any country worldwide.

Processing time depends on the type of document and required procedures:

  • Document retrieval from ZAGS: 5-15 business days
  • Apostille: 3-7 business days
  • Consular legalization: 10-20 business days (varies by country)
  • Translation: 1-3 business days
  • International delivery: 3-7 business days depending on destination

Contact us for an individual assessment of your specific case.

No, you don't need to travel to Russia. That's the main benefit of our service. We work remotely on your behalf using a notarized power of attorney. You can stay in your country of residence, and we will obtain, process, and deliver your documents to your doorstep anywhere in the world.

We can obtain virtually any civil registry document from Russia:

  • Birth certificates (свидетельство о рождении)
  • Marriage certificates (свидетельство о браке)
  • Divorce certificates (свидетельство о расторжении брака)
  • Death certificates (свидетельство о смерти)
  • Name change certificates
  • Police clearance certificates (справка об отсутствии судимости)
  • Educational documents (diplomas, transcripts)
  • Archival documents and extracts

Apostille & Legalization

An apostille is an international certification that authenticates the origin of a public document. It is issued under the 1961 Hague Convention and allows documents to be recognized in member countries without additional legalization.

You need an apostille if:

  • Your document will be used in a Hague Convention country (Germany, Italy, Spain, France, USA, Israel, and 100+ other countries)
  • The receiving authority requires authentication of the document

You need consular legalization (not apostille) if:

  • The destination country is not a Hague Convention member (UAE, China, Canada, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, etc.)

Over 120 countries accept apostille, including:

  • Europe: Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, and most EU countries
  • Americas: USA, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile
  • Asia: Japan, South Korea, India
  • Other: Israel, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa

Countries NOT in the Hague Convention: UAE, China, Canada, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Vietnam, and some others require full consular legalization instead.

Apostille:

  • Single-step certification by the Ministry of Justice
  • Faster (3-7 days)
  • Valid in all Hague Convention countries
  • Lower cost

Consular Legalization:

  • Multi-step process: Ministry of Justice → Ministry of Foreign Affairs → Consulate
  • Longer (10-20+ days)
  • Required for non-Hague countries (UAE, China, Canada, etc.)
  • Higher cost due to consular fees

Documents for Specific Countries

For Germany, you typically need:

  • Apostille on the original Russian document
  • Sworn translation (beeidigte Übersetzung) by a German state-certified translator
  • In some cases: notarized copies

We provide the complete package: obtain the document, arrange apostille, certified translation into German, and courier delivery to your German address.

Learn more about documents for Germany →

For Italy, the standard procedure is:

  • Apostille on the Russian document
  • Sworn translation (traduzione giurata) by a translator registered with the Italian court
  • Some documents may require legalization at the Italian Consulate in Russia

We handle the complete process including working with Italian-certified translators.

Learn more about documents for Italy →

For Israel, you generally need:

  • Apostille (Israel accepts apostille as a Hague Convention country)
  • Translation into Hebrew by a notarized translator
  • Some documents may need notarization by an Israeli notary

Learn more about documents for Israel →

USA: Accepts apostille. You'll need apostille + translation into English (notarized translation is usually sufficient).

Canada: Does NOT accept apostille. Canada requires full consular legalization: notarization → Ministry of Justice → Ministry of Foreign Affairs → Canadian Consulate. This is a more complex process, and we handle it for our clients.

Learn more about documents for USA →

Payment & Delivery

The cost depends on several factors:

  • Type of document(s) needed
  • Whether you need apostille or consular legalization
  • Translation requirements (language, certification type)
  • Destination country for delivery

We provide free quotes with no obligation. Contact us via WhatsApp with details of what you need, and we'll give you an exact price before starting any work. No hidden fees.

We work with no upfront payment for most services:

  • You receive a quote and confirm the order
  • We process your documents
  • We send you photos/scans of completed documents for verification
  • You pay after confirming everything is correct
  • We ship your documents

For consular legalization involving significant consular fees, we may require partial prepayment.

We accept multiple payment methods for your convenience:

  • Bank transfer (SWIFT/IBAN)
  • Credit/debit cards
  • PayPal
  • Cryptocurrency (USDT, BTC)
  • Payment systems (Wise, Revolut)

We'll provide payment details when you confirm your order.

We use reliable international courier services:

  • Delivery services: DHL, FedEx, UPS, EMS
  • Tracking: Full tracking number provided
  • Insurance: Documents are insured during transit
  • Delivery time: 3-7 business days depending on destination
  • Coverage: We deliver to any country worldwide

Before shipping, we send you photos of the documents for verification. You'll always know where your documents are.

Power of Attorney

Yes, for most document retrieval services, a notarized power of attorney (доверенность) is required. This authorizes us to act on your behalf at Russian government offices.

How to get a power of attorney:

  • If you're outside Russia: Visit the Russian Consulate in your country. They can notarize the power of attorney.
  • If you're in Russia: Any Russian notary can prepare it.
  • Some documents can be obtained without POA: Police clearance certificates, certain archival documents.

We provide the exact template and instructions for the power of attorney after you contact us.

Some documents can be obtained without a power of attorney:

  • Police clearance certificate: Can be obtained based on your passport data (no POA needed)
  • Archival extracts: Some can be requested electronically
  • Educational documents: Some universities allow electronic requests

For ZAGS civil registry documents (birth, marriage certificates, etc.), a power of attorney is generally required. Contact us to discuss your specific situation.

Technical Questions

No, an apostille can only be placed on the original document. This is an international requirement under the Hague Convention. The apostille authenticates the signature and seal on the original document.

Alternatives:

  • Notarized copy of the document with an apostille on the notarization
  • Obtaining a duplicate original from ZAGS and placing the apostille on it

We can help with both options. Contact us for a consultation on your specific case.

An apostille has no expiration date. It remains valid indefinitely, as long as the document it authenticates remains valid.

However, it's important to consider:

  • Validity of the document itself: Some documents have a limited validity period (e.g., police clearance certificate — 3 months)
  • Destination country requirements: Some countries require "fresh" documents (e.g., issued within the last 3-6 months)
  • Specific authority requirements: Always verify the requirements of the institution where you'll submit the documents

We recommend checking with the receiving authority before proceeding with legalization.

We can help recover lost documents! This is one of our core services.

Recovery process:

  • We identify which archive/registry holds the record of your document
  • We obtain a duplicate (re-issued certificate) on your behalf
  • We arrange apostille/legalization if needed
  • We deliver the document to you

For recovering civil registry documents, a power of attorney is required. Contact us — we'll guide you on what information is needed for the search.

It depends on the requirements of the receiving authority and country:

  • For official procedures abroad: Usually an original with apostille is required
  • For some purposes: A notarized copy may be sufficient
  • For preliminary stages: Simple photocopies are sometimes accepted

Tip: Always verify the exact requirements with the institution where you'll submit documents. We'll help you understand and prepare exactly what's needed.

Expedited Service

Yes, we offer expedited processing! We understand that sometimes documents are needed urgently.

Expedited options:

  • Urgent apostille: 1-2 business days instead of the standard 3-7
  • Urgent legalization: We optimize the process and use personal connections
  • Express delivery: DHL Express, FedEx International Priority (1-3 days)

Expedited service costs more. Contact us via WhatsApp for pricing and to confirm if expedited processing is possible for your case.

Costs depend on the type of service and timeline:

  • Urgent apostille (1-2 days): +50-100% of the base cost
  • Urgent consular legalization: Varies individually, depends on country and consulate
  • Express delivery: Depends on destination country (usually $50-150)

Contact us for an exact quote. We'll honestly tell you if expedited processing is realistic for your case and how much it will cost.

Minimum timelines (under favorable conditions):

  • Document retrieval from ZAGS (Moscow): From 1-2 business days
  • Apostille: From 1 business day
  • Translation: From a few hours
  • Delivery to Europe: From 1-2 days (DHL Express)

Important: Expedited processing is not always possible — it depends on government agency and consulate workload. Message us, we'll figure it out!

Documents for CIS Countries

CIS countries have simplified procedures! Most CIS countries do NOT require an apostille.

Documents for CIS countries:

  • Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Belarus: Notarized translation is sufficient. No apostille required.
  • Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan: Notarized translation is usually sufficient, but check with the receiving authority.
  • Moldova: Accepts apostille (Hague Convention member country)

We'll help determine the exact requirements for your country. Contact us!

The process is simpler than for non-CIS countries:

  • Step 1: Obtain document from ZAGS/archive
  • Step 2: Notarized translation into the official language of the destination country
  • Step 3: If needed — certification at the consulate of the destination country

Timeline: usually 5-10 business days. Cost is lower than for countries requiring apostille/legalization.

Learn more about documents for CIS countries →

Electronic Documents

Yes, we work with electronic documents!

What we can do:

  • Accept electronic documents from Gosuslugi
  • Help obtain a paper original for apostille
  • Arrange an electronic apostille (e-Apostille) if needed

Important: Most countries still require a paper original with apostille. But trends are changing — some countries now accept electronic apostilles. Check current requirements!

An e-Apostille is a digital version of an apostille with an electronic signature. Introduced in Russia in 2023.

Advantages:

  • Faster processing (sometimes same-day)
  • Can be sent via email
  • Verified online through the registry

Limitations:

  • Not accepted by all countries
  • Not suitable for all document types

Contact us — we'll advise whether an e-Apostille works for your situation and destination country.

Some documents can be obtained electronically:

  • Police clearance certificate: Electronic version available via Gosuslugi
  • EGRUL/EGRIP extracts: Issued electronically
  • Some archival certificates: Can be ordered online

However: For use abroad, a paper original with apostille is usually required. We can help obtain both.

Guarantees & Security

We guarantee correct processing! If your document is rejected due to our error — we'll redo it for free.

How we ensure quality:

  • Operating since 2015, thousands of successfully processed documents
  • We know the requirements of each country and specific institutions
  • Before starting work, we clarify all details and requirements
  • We send photos of completed documents for verification

Tip: Always verify exact requirements with the receiving authority before processing. This saves time and money.

Our guarantees:

  • Payment upon completion: For most services, you pay only after seeing photos of completed documents
  • Transparency: You always know the order status, we send reports
  • Experience: 10+ years of operation, we know all nuances and pitfalls
  • Personal approach: Each case is handled by a specialist responsible for the result

If something doesn't go according to plan — we'll contact you and discuss solutions.

Security of your data is our priority:

  • Minimal data: We request only what's necessary for the work
  • Secure storage: Documents are stored in encrypted form
  • Deletion after completion: Upon request, we delete all copies after delivery
  • Confidentiality: We don't share data with third parties
  • Secure communication: WhatsApp and Telegram with encryption

For more details, see our Privacy Policy.

Countries with Special Requirements

The UAE is not a Hague Convention member — full consular legalization is required.

Process for UAE:

  • Notarization of the document
  • Apostille at the Ministry of Justice
  • Certification at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia
  • Legalization at the UAE Embassy in Moscow
  • Translation into Arabic/English (usually done in the UAE)

Timeline: 15-25 business days. Cost: Higher due to UAE consular fees.

We have experience with documents for the UAE. Contact us for a consultation!

China is not a Hague Convention member — consular legalization is required.

Process:

  • Notarization of the document
  • Apostille at the Ministry of Justice
  • Certification at the MFA of Russia
  • Legalization at the PRC Consulate (depends on destination region)

Specifics:

  • Chinese consulate works slowly (2-3 weeks)
  • Translation into Chinese is required (we can arrange this)
  • Consular fees depend on document type

Plan ahead — the process takes 3-4 weeks.

The UK remained in the Hague Convention after Brexit. Apostilles are still accepted!

For the UK, you need:

  • Apostille on the Russian document
  • Translation into English (notarized translation is usually sufficient)

The procedure hasn't changed after the UK left the EU. If you're moving to the UK on a visa — you need an apostille on your documents.

Spain and France are Hague Convention countries, so:

  • Apostille on the original Russian document
  • Translation: Sworn translation (traducción jurada / traduction assermentée)

Spain specifics:

  • Translation must be done by a translator accredited in Spain
  • Some documents require additional certification

France specifics:

  • Translation by a translator authorized by a French court
  • Sometimes legalization at the French consulate is required

We work with certified translators for both countries.

Still have questions?

Contact us directly — we'll be happy to answer all your questions and provide a free consultation.